Estimated repair cost?

Howdy folks. So I'll be picking up my new Mav next weekend, and I was wondering if y'all could help me out a bit. The car is in great working order, 87,000 original miles with a new transmission put in 4 years ago. I6 250, drum brakes, ac, power steering, redone interior. I feel I got a great deal for $2500. The only issue is the body damage on the drivers side. When I first looked at the pictures with the original post, I didn't notice the full extent of the damage, but now that I've received a few more pics, it's looking like it's gonna take a great deal more money than expected to repair the dings. Seeing as how I've never had to deal with such issues, I was hoping you fine folks could give some insight as to what I'm looking to spend? PS- in the pictures of the body damage, it appears as though the paint is cracked off, but it's not. The light hitting it differently just makes it seems so.
PSS- the frame is completely fine, so no worries there.

Semper Fi

 

hard part is finding a shop that will work on older cars...then trusting they will do what they say, when they say it will be done and what they charge is what it is...:Handshake

 

Those cracks look like bondo to me. Real hard to tell.

I would say $1000 and up to fix that would be a safe number. Might be able to get it fixed for less....maybe for more...but that is an online estimate for you.

 

Is the door shut all the way in the picture?

 

Craig- those aren't actually cracks. The paint is just catching the light different so it looks like its cracked.
Joe- yep, it is.

I'm thinking I should just get a new door?

 

Alot of the quarter damage could knocked back out. As far as the door goes you can pick one of those up off here or craigslist. Just depends if you want the experience or not.

 

Cost really depends on what you're expecting in an end result. If you shop for a repair based solely on price be prepared to be disappointed during and after repairs.

 

If you supply a solid doorand trim pieces. I would guess to straighten the quarter, prep and paint door jambs and door interior, install door, paint door, rocker panel and quarter and re-stripe to be around $1800 -$2000

 

I would think closer to...$3000...and I know nothing about painting, but I slept at a Holiday Inn Express once...

 

I would take your photos around to several body shops. This way you can get an idea of whether or not you would even want them to do the work, and an estimate of what they would charge. The cost of body work varies so greatly from area to area, I couldn't begin to give you a reasonable estimate!

 

I could do the repairs but im about 7 hours from you

 

as far as the door goes dump it and get another used one thats in decent shape. the 1/4 panel can be fixed from the inside. you can take the interior panel off (easy to do) and clean the surface good then tape a short 2x4 in place long ways across the dent then push on it as hard as you can by hand or with your feet to try and push the dent back out. if that doesnt work your going to have to use a hammer to knock it out. then what doesnt push out you can fill in with a light layer of filler like bondo. you can pick up a door for around $100 here and I bought hinges for $40 a pair used then put new pins in for like $4 each.
the cost of the repair will vary WIDELY depending on what you can do yourself. most body shops will tell you they have to take the door off to repair it anyway. they will prolly suggest that you replace it. and the 1/4 panel they will spot weld rods on the outside then slide hammer the dent out and youre left with a BUNCH little debts that will be filled in with bondo then theyll paint it. I would guess atleast two grand since theyll have to paint hat side of the car on the cheap side. more if they paint the whole car

 

Joe I'd be more than willing to drive 7 hours to get it fixed right!

 

See if there a communioty college near by that has auto body, usually the results care fantastic. So many body shops are more interested in dealing with insurance claims than walk ins. The quality of work actaully has gone down because of this

 

Don't know about the shops you frequent, I can tell by your misconception that you don't do body work. It comes down to there are body shops that do restoration work and there are collision shops that do collision work. I do collision work for a living and restoration on the side. I'd love to do it full time but few as this thread shows are willing to pay for it.